ROUND 2 OF MASS EFFECT 3 FEMALE SHEPARD VOTING

Every Mass Effect fan knows the face of Male Shepard, but what about Female Shepard? Last month's first round of voting narrowed the field of five concepts down to one badass female commander. Now that the people have spoken, Bioware's official Mass Effect 3 Female Shepard is coming into focus. Starting today, you can vote on the winning FemShep's complexion details (blonde, light brown, red, and black hair) to further mold her image.

In Mass Effect 3 Commander Shepard continues her quest to put an end to the Reaper threat. Set on total galactic domination, the Reapers have left nothing but a trail of destruction in their wake, and Earth is their next target. Shepard must lead the counter assault to take her back her race's home planet in this sci-fi action adventure. The price of failure is extinction.

Only you, as Shepard, can determine how events will play out. Pre-order your copy of Mass Effect 3 on Origin and prepare for galactic war.

BATTLEFIELD 3 LIMITED EDITION DETAILS RELEASED

Battlefield fans, we know you’re anxiously awaiting the release of Battlefield 3 this fall, and today we’ve got some good news for you. EA and DICE announced two editions of Battlefield 3 and the unique pre-order items available at participating retailers in North America today! Soldiers and squads looking to claim battlefield superiority this Oct. 25, 2011 have an array of options available when pre-ordering the game.

Battlefield 3 is proving to be one of the most anticipated games of 2011, having already earned over 50 awards including ‘Best Action Game’ and ‘Best Online Multiplayer Game.’ With the beautiful Frostbite 2 engine powering the game and the celebrated Battlefield feel, anybody can see why people are so excited for this one.

The standard edition of the game includes the single-player campaign, all 10 massive co-op maps and multiple multiplayer modes. The Limited Edition comes with a ton of extras to make your experience even better and you can get it at no extra cost.

Gamers who pre-order Battlefield 3 are assured a copy of the Limited Edition, which includes the Back to Karkand post-launch digital expansion pack at no extra charge. With Back to Karkand, players can wage all-out war on four of the most celebrated maps from Battlefield 2 including Strike at Karkand, Gulf of Oman and the Sharqi Peninsula, all stunningly re-created using the power of Frostbite 2.

Select retailers are also offering Battlefield 3 pre-order customers the following promotional items:

Physical Warfare Pack --Storm the battlefield armed with a set of three exclusive weapons in the Physical Warfare Pack including: 1) the Type 88 light machine gun with bipod for deadly firepower and total zone control; 2) the SKS sniper rifle flash suppressor that provides increased stealth abilities for Recon soldiers; and 3) the lethal armor-piercing flechette ammo for the DAO-12 semi-automatic shotgun that will tear through anything in its path. Each weapon will be available for a limited time in-game, and will later become available to all players. Also unlocked is instant access to the highly versatile DAO-12 semi-automatic shotgun.
SPECACT Kit -- Players can expand their customizable options in Battlefield 3 with a set of eight unique multiplayer skins, one for each class in Battlefield 3.
Dog Tag Pack-- In Battlefield 3, dog tags serve as the player’s in-game signature, allowing gamers to customize their soldiers. Dog tags are displayed on screen every time a player takes down an enemy or claims an opponent’s dog tags. This pre-order exclusive item comes with five new, unique dog tags.
As an added bonus, players who pre-order the game from Origin will be granted early access to the Open Beta for Battlefield 3 when it goes live in September. Early Beta access is for US PC Download customers only.

Battlefield 3 will be available Oct. 25, 2011 in North America for the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and the PC. PC gamers will be able to download the Battlefield 3 Limited Edition at Origin as well as over 100 digital retailers worldwide. For a complete list of worldwide digital download partners, please visit www.battlefield.com/digitaldownload.

BATTLEFIELD 3 NOVEL COMING

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the story of Battlefield 3 or if you’re a gamer who just likes to read, then we have some exciting news for you! DICE announced the publication of a novel based on the game that will propel the story in new directions.

The novel, titled Battlefield 3: The Russian, is written by the highly decorated ex-SAS operator and best-selling author of Bravo Two Zero, Andy McNab, with co-author Peter Grimsdale. The book tells the back-story of RU Special Forces operator Dima, one of the soldiers featured in the Battlefield 3 single-player campaign. Having first-hand experience of the drama and trauma of war, McNab brings an authentic voice and heart-wrenching perspective to the story.

In 1984 McNab was 'badged' as a member of 22 SAS Regiment and was involved in both covert and overt special operations worldwide. During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, 'will remain in regimental history for ever.' Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal during his military career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS in February 1993.

In the game, the single-player storyline is revealed through a series of flashbacks as Marine Staff Sergeant Henry Blackburn races to prevent an attack on New York City by a deadly force known as the PLR. As Blackburn recalls key events leading up to the attack, players take control of several characters in heart-pounding missions across land, sea and air. One of these characters is Dmitri “Dima” Mayakovsky, a legendary and pragmatic GRU operator in the twilight of his Special Forces career. Known as a “cleaner,” Dima is the sort of person who does whatever it takes to get the job done. The book picks up where the game leaves off, allowing McNab and Grimsdale to give a thrilling new perspective into Dima’s own personal quest as well as the events of Battlefield 3.

Like the game, the novel is charged with documentary intensity, high octane action, and ripped-from-the-headlines incursions. Battlefield 3: The Russian paints a picture of a soldier struggling to do whatever it takes to keep himself and his platoon alive.

This modern military novel will be released alongside the game on Oct. 25, 2011 and you can pre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin today!

NEW NEED FOR SPEED: THE RUN TRAILER

What's life without a little risk? In this worldwide debut of the latest trailer for Need for Speed: The Run, you’ll see what happens when you go for a spin through the hills of California. The trailer features actual in-game footage, giving you a taste of what it's like to get behind the wheel in Need For Speed: The Run. Keep an eye out for the realistic effect of sunlight on your view and the intense racing action as the driver attempts to pass ten opponents on the way to the finish line in first place.

No speed limits. No rules. No allies. All you have are your driving skills and sheer determination as you battle hundreds of the world’s most notorious drivers on the country’s most dangerous roads while you tear through precarious mountain passes and treacherous deserts.

You’ll race across the United States of America as you speed through cities like San Francisco and New York City with enemies hot on your heels. And for the first time in a Need for Speed game, you’ll have the chance to go on foot as you desperately escape those who would like nothing more than to bring you down.

Need for Speed: The Run is set to come out November 15th. Pre-order your copy today on Origin and get ready for blistering speed and hot cars.

PETER MOORE: EA SPORTS IS GROWING!

It’s an exciting time for us at EA SPORTS as we continue the radical transformation of our business.  There is now more opportunity than ever to bring connected sports experiences to our fans in a multitude of ways, on a multitude of platforms.  Success is no longer measured on the results of packaged goods, but rather in how we engage with our community and build a persistent, online world that is with you anytime and anywhere.

Building this digital playground is not a flip of the switch.  We must craft the proper infrastructure with talent that upholds the EA SPORTS strategic pillars: Innovate for the core, create value through live services, and develop new experiences for new consumers.  The expertise required means new jobs, many in functions that didn’t previously exist.  Our business is changing and so are our needs for talent.

I’m happy to confirm the expansion of EA SPORTS to the bustling development community of Austin, Texas.  As we’ve seen through the current EA studios based in Austin, the area provides a thriving talent pool of game developers, and their passion for sports (especially football - Hook ‘Em Horns!) is unmatched.  Combined with a political leadership that is dedicated to growing the digital media industry, Austin became the perfect location to begin our expansion.  Within the next year, we’ll be building a small team that will be focused on development on HD platforms.  

This expansion won’t be limited to Austin, as we’re continuing to strengthen our talent pipeline within our core studios at EA Canada and Tiburon as they continue to build towards the next-generation of sports experiences.  Once again, welcome Austin, Texas to the EA SPORTS family!

EA RELEASES THE SIMS SOCIAL FIRST SCREENSHOTS

The very first The Sims Social screenshots have been posted, showing off some new skills your Sims can use! You’ll be able to play instruments and cook – and much more!

The Sims Social is an upcoming Facebook game where you can create unique Sims and live out their dreams or stir up trouble by pulling pranks. Develop deep relationships to unlock new features and advance. Play with life in a whole new way—with your real friends, for free!

Even if you’re away from your home computer and can’t play The Sims 3, The Sims Social will be there as long as you can get on Facebook. Stay tuned for more updates as this game gets closer to release. In the meantime, be sure to like us on Facebook!

BATTLEFIELD HEROES PREPARES FOR WAR WITH EXCLUSIVE FREEBIES

When the hot summer months roll around, sometimes you just want to hide inside, close the blinds, and try to ignore the oppressive heat and miserable humidity with a game or two. It’s the perfect time to celebrate Battlefield Heroes’ second anniversary and the surpassing of 8 million players worldwide! EA has something special in store for all Battlefield Heroes fans.

Wake Island,one ofthe Battlefield franchise’s most popular maps, is coming to Battlefield Heroes laterthis month. But that’s not all - players can log in between June 30, 2011, 3:00 PM PT and July 7, 2011, 11:59 PM PT to receive two free Party Packs, one Royal and one National. Each Party Pack will include 77 Battlefunds, 25 Festive Flares, a permanent exclusive Party Hat, and a seven day rental to play in a Birthday Suit! To claim their free Party Packs, players can log in and look in the “My Stuff” menu and select “Rewards.”

Battlefield Heroes is a Play4Free third-person shooter that brings classic Battlefield gameplay to everybody. The game features cartoon-style graphics and gameplay that caters to players of all skill levels. Battlefield Heroes is easy to pick up and play but has robust character customization and engaging online features so gamers can spend hours building up their characters and conquering the world. With a variety of classes, vehicles, and avenues of attack, no match plays the same way. Sign up today and join the fight!